Lemon Blueberry Breakfast Bundt Cake

I use two cookbooks when making cakes in most cases either Chef Chloe’s cookbook “Chloe’s Kitchen” or the “Joy of Vegan Baking”. The Joy of Vegan Baking has an excellent Lemon Blueberry Loaf Cake Recipe if I remember correctly. For the purposes of this cake we are doctoring up Chef Chloe’s vanilla cake recipe (www.chefchloe.com) and making it a lemon blueberry cake for brunch in honor of my Mother’s birthday this past week.

My family is big on brunch. We do Easter brunch every year and for most informal birthday or family get togethers. We are great at doing brunch and I have been to so many hotel brunches all over the world I feel spoiled by them during my Sunday indulgences. I think that brunch is so much fun for everyone because it encourages good eating through small portions and copious amounts of veggie and fruit options even when they are not always attached to vegan items. There are fruit cups, quiches, and omelettes filled with veggie fillings so I am all about it! However, the pastries and baked goods are always filled with eggs and dairy so I am going to change that today with this travel friendly recipe to bring to your next family soiree. I promise everyone will love it. I have made it for a potluck at work a few years ago and recently for a family get together after the funeral of my grandmother and as the only vegan I always suffer the “this tastes different” criticism. But not with this cake. Even my Dad was found picking at it long after brunch was over!

lemon blueberry cake altered image

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Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake

Ingredients:

  • 1 lemon
  • 1 cup of fresh blueberries (plus 1 cup for garnish)
  • 1 jar lemon marmalade (for garnish)
  • 1 tbsp of Lemon Extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free all-purpose flour plus 1 ½ teaspoon xanthan gum)
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ¾ cups soy milk
  • 1 cup canola oil
  • ¼ cup white or apple cider vinegar (I use ACV not white)
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract (I use Penzey’s Mexican Vanilla Extract)

blueberries garnish cake

TIME TO BAKE!

Chef Chloe’s Vanilla Cake Recipe with my additions in bold caps:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease three 8 or 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together nondairy milk (I USE ORGANIC SOYMILK) , oil, vinegar, and vanilla (ALSO ADD THE ZEST OF ONE LEMON RIND AND 1TBSP OF LEMON EXTRACT AND 2 TBSP OF LEMON JUICE.)
  3. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and whisk until just combined. Do not over mix. (THEN SPRINKLE 1 CUP OF FRESH BLUEBERRIES LIGHTLY WITH FLOUR AND FOLD INTO BATTER. THE FLOUR HELPS THEM FROM SINKING STRAIGHT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CAKE PAN.)
  4. Fill each prepared (BUNDT) cake pan evenly with batter. Bake for (20-30) minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean with a few crumbs clinging to it. Rotate the cakes halfway through the baking time. Cool the cakes completely before assembly.
  5. I then flip the cake over on a cake pedestle and sprinkle with powdered sugar and garnish with fresh blueberries in the center. I serve this with lemon marmalade that I buy when it is on sale at Christmas Tree Shops since they are famous for having sales on jars of jellies.

lemon blueberry cake 2

Enjoy!

Serves 12.

lemon blueberry bundt cake

 

WW POINTS: 9pts per serving. (Based on 12 servings)

 

blueberry cake chunk

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XOXOX,

The Hippie Gypsy

Fillo Primavera: Veggie and Cheese Filled Pastries

I love that there are so many types of pastry and dough on the market that are vegan. Mostly because Crisco and Shortening are vegan, not healthy, but vegan none the less. So when I was craving something like a Beef Wellington pastry I thought oooh I bet I could make those with fillo dough, pie dough, Pillsbury Croissant Dough, or even pizza dough! So for my first attempt I didn’t go straight to the Gardein Beef but instead to some veggies and Daiya cheese but please feel free to try these with any type of faux meat, vegetable, cheese, or even fruit! The Farmer’s Markets are brimming with good things lately so I encourage you to experiment with this. Make an eggplant parm fillo or even a butternut squash one with a pinch of cinnamon and brown sugar try a dessert fillo with peaches and earth balance , sugar, ginger, and cardamom. Whatever you can imagine will fit perfectly in this dough!

Fillo Primavera

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Fillo Primavera

Vegan Fillo Dough

  • 1 box Organic Fillo Dough
  • 1 head broccoli
  • 2 tomatoes
  • 1 block Daiya Havarti Cheese
  • Kosher Salt
  • Pepper
  • Garlic
  • Dehydrated Onions
  • Olive Oil
  • Optional: 1 Container of Victoria Vegan Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo Sauce or Rao’s Marinara Sauce (Victoria Vegan Alfredo Sauces are available at www.veganessentials.com and Rao’s Sauces are available in most grocery stores including Whole Foods)

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Prepare!

  1. Chop all veggies into tiny pieces to accommodate the fillo packages that will go in the muffin pan.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  3. Spray muffin pans lightly with olive oil.
  4. Cut fillo dough into squares twice as large as the muffin tin holes.
  5. Place at least 3 sheets of the fillo dough square into each muffin tin hole.               Fillo Dough
  6. Spray dough with olive oil, sprinkle with Salt, Pepper, and Spices.
  7. Place chopped veggies and crumbled cheese into each fillo muffin.                                                                   Fillo Filling
  8. Add 1-2 tsp of optional sauces at this time like Victoria Vegan Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo or Rao’s Marinara.         Fillo Filling 2
  9. Sprinkle tops with more salt, pepper, and spices.
  10. Bring excess dough to a point and twist. Spray with olive oil and a sprinkle of finishing salt.

Cook!

fillo primavera baking

  1. Bake for at least 15minutes or until the dough on top starts to darken and the dough separates from the sides of the muffin tin. It may take longer depending on how dense your cups and what types of ingredients you filled it with.      Fillo Baking Done
  2. Note: Use more fill sheets for juicier fruits and veggies and less for more dense foods like chicken and broccoli.
  3. Serve immediately and enjoy!

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XOXOX,

The Hippie Gypsy

Quick and Tropical Mexican Rice Plate

When I first met my husband I lived in San Diego, California. I ate in for most of my meals and he ate out for most of his. I learned that he was beyond obsessed with burritos. I liked burritos well enough but the tortilla was always a little to filling for me. I prefered rise dishes or the filling over a salad. One day he made me this filling of beans and fish and salsa in the oven and put it over a salad for me and I was forever in love with it. I now place it in burritos or over rice all the time but instead of fish I use vegan chicken and he still uses fish. He prefers it over rice and in a burrito. So I will show you both and I will show you the quick way without boiling rice or making pineapple salsa from scratch 🙂 Don’t forget that anything can be subbed for the chicken portion. You can place in veggies, roasted peppers, portobello mushrooms, etc.

 Gotta love a quick Meatless Mondays dish for the whole family with easy clean up!

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Tropical Mexican Rice Dish

Ingredients:

  1. 1 package Spanish Uncle Ben’s 90 second rice
  2. 4-8 Flour Burrito Tortillas (I like the Fiber One 80 calorie ones)
  3. 1 jar Newman’s Own Organics Pineapple Salsa
  4. 1 can Fat Free Refried Beans (I use Old El Paso)
  5. 1 container of Beyond Meat Chickenless Strips Lightly Seasoned
  6. Optional Toppings: Onions, Hot Sauce, lemon, lime, garlic powder, salad, etc.

Baking:

  • Preheat oven to 425degrees.
  • On a long piece of aluminum foil smear 1/4 to 1/2 cup of refried beans in a circle in the center.
  • Place chicken (or veggies or fish if you aren’t vegan) on top.

burrito preperation

  • Cover with salsa and any optional items. I cover with the onions and hot sauce first and then the salsa.
  • Bring sides of tinfoil together and roll downward. Fold other sides into center.
  • Place directly on oven rack. Bake for 25-30minutes (longer for fish less for chicken).
  • Remove from oven.
  • Place 90 second rice in microwave.
  • Place 1/4cup – 1/2cup of rice in each burrito and top with oven baked filling.

burrito done

Enjoy!

 

(WW Points for filling without rice is 5 points, Rice is another 5 points for 1 cup, Fiber One Tortillas are 2pts each)

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XOXOX,

The Hippie Gypsy

Veganized Savory Chicken Pot Pie

Lately, I have been addicted to Food Network Star. It ended the other night and the pie man lost but that didn’t make me lose the inspiration he created on screen. He could make anything into a pie. When I saw that grilled cheese pie with the short ribs I started to drool. I have actually been lucky enough to visit his restuarant in DC on my April road trip and was suprised to see they always feature multiple vegan pies there! However, I do not know how to make a vegan short rib equivalent so I started googling savory pies and looking at his pie shop menus. Chicken pot pie and chicken pie came up a lot in all these searches.

When I was a kid my mother would make Chicken Pot Pie a few times a month I swear. My father was always traveling and I can only imagine how stressed my mom was, so a one pot/pie meal was something she could throw together from all the leftovers during the week and we would have our bellies full. We either got it from scratch or in the box from Willow Farms that was fresh and local and a good alternative. My favorite however was just chicken and stuffing or potatoes. After watching Food Network and then googling for hours I decided I was going to make a chicken pie that was half chicken pie and a smidge chicken pot pie. I called my husband and told him to pick me up some pie crust on the way home. I was lucky because he got the refrigerated vegan pie crust from Whole Foods instead of the boxed kind and defrost was not needed.

NOTE: He is such a good sport about supporting my culinary undertakings without question.

I then embarked upon my first ever savory pie attempt and the stars must have aligned because it was the most delicious pie I had ever made. I don’t say this lightly because I make an amazing chocolate strawberry pie but this one was unbelievable. The crust was just a little sweet and perfectly flaky and the filling was hearty and subtle with an aroma of calming rosemary filling the house and the slight crunch of the diced broccoli stalks just finished it off. It will be ideal when Autumn hits. My husband, the resident omnivore, even had two slices before I was done with my first.

So let me tell you how I did it and you can make this for your Meatless Monday or meatless anyday or meatless everyday!

pie cut out

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Savory Rosemary and Thyme Chicken Pie

INGREDIENTS:

Filling

  • 1 Container Beyond Meat Lightly Seasoned Chicken Strips (available at Whole Foods)
  • 1 head of broccoli
  • 1/4 of an onion ciabatta bread square (8×8) (or any bread you have leftover just add extra onions)
  • 1 carmalized onion diced into tiny pieces or 1/3 cup of dehydrated onions (which I prefer)
  • 2tbsp Rosemary
  • 2tsp Thyme
  • 2 tbsp kosher salt
  • 1tsp black freshly ground pepper
  • 1tsp granulated garlic

Sauce

  • 1cup Almond Milk
  • 1/3 cup Tofutti Sour Cream
  • 1/3 cup Daiya Mozzarella Cheese Shreds
  • 1/4 block of Daiya Havarti Cheese
  • 2tbsp Olive Oil
  • 2tbsp dehydrated onion
  • 1tsp salt

Pie Crust

  • 2 Vegan Refrigerated Pie Crusts from Whole Foods
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Thyme
  • Rosemary
  • Granulated Garlic
  • Dehydrated Onions

Finishing

  • Olive Oil for Misting the top only
  • Pinch of salt

pie slice

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COOKING:

Prepare Filling:

  1. Dice Beyond Meat Vegan Chicken.
  2. Dice into very small pieces broccoli.
  3. Dice cubed bread and soak in warm water for 3 minutes. Remove and add to mixture.
  4. Toss all ingredients of filling until well combined.

Prepare Sauce

  1. Place all sauce ingredients in sauce pan on Medium heat and stir until melted and well combined.
  2. Take off heat and add filling until all contents are covered in sauce.

Prepare Crust

  1. Preheat oven to 350degrees.
  2. Take both pie crusts and knead in spices and salt until well-distributed through dough.
  3. Press 1 crust dough back into pie pan and then place parchment paper and pie weights on top for precooking. If you do not have pie weights you can use canned veggies with the paper ripped off or dry beans you have on hand to weigh down the crust and keep it from bubbling up while you precook the dough. Do not forget to precook the dough or the filling will cause it to come out raw. Precook until lightly golden.
  4. Knead second dough with spices and salt. Roll out to twice the size of original dough as this will cover the heaping pie.
  5. Take pie crust out of oven and fill with filling/sauce mixture. It will be dome shaped on top. Press in and condense. The Beyond Meat chicken is already cooked so you do not have to worry about raw meat.
  6. Once all the filling is in the crust cover with the second seasoned dough. Tuck in the edges so that it forms and thick layer that has no holes at the seam of the pie pan.

pie oven 2

  1. Cut air holes on the top of the crust to allow for steam to escape. I say 4 1 inch slits always work out well.
  2. Mist lightly with olive oil and sprinkle a pinch of salt on top.
  3. Bake at 425degrees for approximately 30minutes or until crust is golden on top .

pie done oven

Eat. Serve. Enjoy.

Serves 8-10.

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XOXOX,

The Hippie Gypsy

Veganized Savory Chicken Pot Pie

Lately, I have been addicted to Food Network Star. It ended the other night and the pie man lost but that didn’t make me lose the inspiration he created on screen. He could make anything into a pie. When I saw that grilled cheese pie with the short ribs I started to drool. I have actually been lucky enough to visit his restuarant in DC on my April road trip and was suprised to see they always feature multiple vegan pies there! However, I do not know how to make a vegan short rib equivalent so I started googling savory pies and looking at his pie shop menus. Chicken pot pie and chicken pie came up a lot in all these searches.

When I was a kid my mother would make Chicken Pot Pie a few times a month I swear. My father was always traveling and I can only imagine how stressed my mom was, so a one pot/pie meal was something she could throw together from all the leftovers during the week and we would have our bellies full. We either got it from scratch or in the box from Willow Farms that was fresh and local and a good alternative. My favorite however was just chicken and stuffing or potatoes. After watching Food Network and then googling for hours I decided I was going to make a chicken pie that was half chicken pie and a smidge chicken pot pie. I called my husband and told him to pick me up some pie crust on the way home. I was lucky because he got the refrigerated vegan pie crust from Whole Foods instead of the boxed kind and defrost was not needed.

NOTE: He is such a good sport about supporting my culinary undertakings without question.

I then embarked upon my first ever savory pie attempt and the stars must have aligned because it was the most delicious pie I had ever made. I don’t say this lightly because I make an amazing chocolate strawberry pie but this one was unbelievable. The crust was just a little sweet and perfectly flaky and the filling was hearty and subtle with an aroma of calming rosemary filling the house and the slight crunch of the diced broccoli stalks just finished it off. It will be ideal when Autumn hits. My husband, the resident omnivore, even had two slices before I was done with my first.

So let me tell you how I did it and you can make this for your Meatless Monday or meatless anyday or meatless everyday!

pie cut out

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Savory Rosemary and Thyme Chicken Pie

INGREDIENTS:

Filling

  • 1 Container Beyond Meat Lightly Seasoned Chicken Strips (available at Whole Foods)
  • 1 head of broccoli
  • 1/4 of an onion ciabatta bread square (8×8) (or any bread you have leftover just add extra onions)
  • 1 carmalized onion diced into tiny pieces or 1/3 cup of dehydrated onions (which I prefer)
  • 2tbsp Rosemary
  • 2tsp Thyme
  • 2 tbsp kosher salt
  • 1tsp black freshly ground pepper
  • 1tsp granulated garlic

Sauce

  • 1cup Almond Milk
  • 1/3 cup Tofutti Sour Cream
  • 1/3 cup Daiya Mozzarella Cheese Shreds
  • 1/4 block of Daiya Havarti Cheese
  • 2tbsp Olive Oil
  • 2tbsp dehydrated onion
  • 1tsp salt

Pie Crust

  • 2 Vegan Refrigerated Pie Crusts from Whole Foods
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Thyme
  • Rosemary
  • Granulated Garlic
  • Dehydrated Onions

Finishing

  • Olive Oil for Misting the top only
  • Pinch of salt

pie slice

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COOKING:

Prepare Filling:

  1. Dice Beyond Meat Vegan Chicken.
  2. Dice into very small pieces broccoli.
  3. Dice cubed bread and soak in warm water for 3 minutes. Remove and add to mixture.
  4. Toss all ingredients of filling until well combined.

Prepare Sauce

  1. Place all sauce ingredients in sauce pan on Medium heat and stir until melted and well combined.
  2. Take off heat and add filling until all contents are covered in sauce.

Prepare Crust

  1. Preheat oven to 350degrees.
  2. Take both pie crusts and knead in spices and salt until well-distributed through dough.
  3. Press 1 crust dough back into pie pan and then place parchment paper and pie weights on top for precooking. If you do not have pie weights you can use canned veggies with the paper ripped off or dry beans you have on hand to weigh down the crust and keep it from bubbling up while you precook the dough. Do not forget to precook the dough or the filling will cause it to come out raw. Precook until lightly golden.
  4. Knead second dough with spices and salt. Roll out to twice the size of original dough as this will cover the heaping pie.
  5. Take pie crust out of oven and fill with filling/sauce mixture. It will be dome shaped on top. Press in and condense. The Beyond Meat chicken is already cooked so you do not have to worry about raw meat.
  6. Once all the filling is in the crust cover with the second seasoned dough. Tuck in the edges so that it forms and thick layer that has no holes at the seam of the pie pan.

pie oven 2

  1. Cut air holes on the top of the crust to allow for steam to escape. I say 4 1 inch slits always work out well.
  2. Mist lightly with olive oil and sprinkle a pinch of salt on top.
  3. Bake at 425degrees for approximately 30minutes or until crust is golden on top .

pie done oven

Eat. Serve. Enjoy.

Serves 8-10.

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XOXOX,

The Hippie Gypsy

Broiled or Grilled Peaches with Caramel Sauce

In the summer there are a few fruits that just beg me to eat them. Peaches are definitely one of them. The thing about peaches however is that other than eating them raw, putting them in iced tea, or making a galette I was always afraid to do much else with them. I mean they are soft and super juicy and I feared that any sort of cooking would reduce them to a sticky mess. Well the other night I proved my own fears wrong.

peaches

I invited a few of my guy friends over to have a cookout at my home with my husband and I. I made spiced vanilla cupcakes from the box (Organics brand using egg replacer and a dash of Penzey’s Cake spice then finished them off with a vanilla sugar). Then I took fresh peaches from my local Whole Foods in Swampscott and sliced them in half cut out the pit and put the oven on. The grill was off limits since my husband had been grilling steaks on there for the guys and I was not putting my peaches on that mess. Yuck.

The result was a softened warm juicy half peach enrobed in a quick stovetop caramel drizzle next to a slice of delicate vanilla spice cake. It was heaven and it was quick. Even the guys sighed when they ate them.

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Here is how I did it:

3 peaches
Coconut Spray Oil (like Pam but with Coconut Oil, I use Spectra brand)
1 Earth Balance Buttery Stick
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup Soy Creamer

  1. Preheat oven at 400degrees.
  2. Wash peaches to slightly de-fuzz them.
  3. Slice peaches in half and remove the pit.
  4. Spray a cookie sheet with Coconut Oil.
  5. Melt 2tbsp of earth balance in a teacup in the microwave and baste the inside and outside of the peaches until well covered.                                                                                                                          peach preperation
  6. Place peaches flesh side down on cookie sheet with fuzzy side up.                                        peaches baking
  7. Bake until they appear to be bubbling juices out about 15-20minutes.
  8. Then turn the broiler on to HI, move the peaches to the top rack, and broil until brown and black spots appear on the top of the peaches about 3minutes. This simulates the grill marks you would get if you grilled them instead. If you were to grill them you would do something similar with keeping them on the top shelf until then were cooked and soft and then bring them down to the lower grill grate to get the grill marks on them.                                          peaches broiled
  9. In a medium sauce pan mix brown sugar, remaining butter, and soy creamer over medium until melted and combined. Be careful it does not burn and stir often.
  10. Once caramel is reduced remove from heat.
  11. Drizzle peaches with caramel and serve with your favorite cakes or ice cream!

SERVES 6.

(WW Points for just Broiled Peach – 3pts for 2 halves)

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Enjoy!

XOXOX, The Hippie Gypsy

Grilled Tropical Fruit Kabobs

When I was just out of college I moved into my first place on my own. I always had roommates or suite-mates prior to that point in my life. After about 2 months I moved out of that apartment because someone had stolen the tires off my car and kicked down my door to rob me in a 30 day time span.

In an effort at safety my parents had me move to a quiet remote spot. My parents helped me find the most magical beachhouse on Point Shirley in Winthrop, MA. I loved this little house more than anything. My parents even bought me my first grill since I had a porch and mini backyard with my beach view. I learned quickly that if you are having people over for a party in which you intend to grill. You should not turn on the grills gas ahead of time without igniting it or else it will all simply seep out and you will not be able to use the grill (I thought I was preheating it like one would an oven). Luckily people were only coming for snacks and dessert so I improvised my grilling techniques and held my grilled fruit kabobs over the open flame of my gas stove. The party was great and no one even noticed my poor cooking abilities and naivety. They did however love my kabobs!

Now that I am older and wiser (and giving recipes to others) I say, be like I was when I was 22. If you can’t complete a step because you don’t have that fancy tool or you live in a place that you can’t grill or what have you, Improvise. It will always work out. Food is nothing to be afraid of. If it looks terrible at least it may still taste good! If it doesn’t, there is always the company to enjoy! You just need to be creative. No one will die or go home hungry. They will just stop at McDonald’s.

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Grilled Tropical Fruit Kabobs

1 container of Sweet and Sara (R) Toasted Coconut Marshmallows

1 box/bag of bamboo skewers (soaked 5-15minutes in warm water)

2cups Cubed Pineapple

2cups Shredded Sweetened Coconut

3 Starfruit sliced thin

2 mangoes cubed

1lb strawberries

1 container of melon balls (honey dew, seedless watermelon, or cantaloupe)

4tbsp melted Earth Balance (R) Butter Sticks (with a basting brush)

Vanilla Sugar (for sprinkling) ( I use Penzey’s)

1/2 bag of SemiSweet Vegan Chocolate Chips (melted in a bowl) (I use 365 brand)

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  • Prepare your grill or open flame to be of medium heat.
  • Melt Chocolate in a bowl in the microwave or a fondue pot. Keep a spoon nearby for drizzling the kabobs.
  • Place shredded coconut on a platter so that you can roll your kabob in it.
  • Lightly baste all hard fruits that will be directly on the grill with melted Earth Balance.
  • When stacking your fruit on the skewer, do not do it all at once. Place the thicker fruits like pineapple on first and place on the grill for 2-3 minutes (they need more time and won’t fall through the grate). Then the softer fruits and marshmallows and hold over the open flame like you are at a Camp Fire! this prevents them from falling through the grate or falling apart on the grill. Softer fruits will burn quicker and watery fruits may drip causing spitting flames so holding it over is a safer option.
  • Once the fruits are dripping just a tad you know that the sugars are extracting and the kabob is ready.
  • Drizzle the kabob with melted chocolate, sprinkle with vanilla sugar, and roll in coconut. Serve (or Eat) Immediately.

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NOTE: These are always a hit and the kids love to be able to make their own! If you want to prepare some in advance for a kids party, grill some starfruit ahead of time then use all softer fruits and marshmallow along the base (for when they grill their portion) and top with the starfruit for a “magic wand” effect. You can also get graham crackers and make fruit smores as well!

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XOXOX,

The Hippie Gypsy

Grilling for Vegans: What to Eat and How to Make it

As grilling season approaches I realize that my husband gets so excited his heart may just explode. I say it is from the meat heavy dishes and he says it is from the amazing Weber Grill my father got him as a present. Whatever the case is I make him grill me veggie burgers, corn, whatever. And he has started to become an expert. No grill baskets needed. So here is my veg-lovers guide to eating at a barbecue without all the looks (except of envy) and the extra equipment!

1. Invest in fresh veggies. The frozen kind will not be able to hold up to direct fire. Save those for the wintertime when you are feeling lethargic and uninspired.

2. Buy tinfoil/aluminum foil. This is a cheaper but I admit a less ecofriendly option to grill baskets but it is reasonable especially when you have a bunch of people hitting up your home on a hot day. You can just toss out the oil salty foil after and worry about that sink another day. And no cross contamination!

3. Invest in an olive oil mist sprayer. I have the one from Macy’s that I also know Martha Stewart sells. It works and doesn’t slather on too much oil.

4. The only seasoning you need is salt and pepper. That being said take any veggies you want and spray them season them throw them on tinfoil and grill to your hearts desire. I am a big fan of grilling corn, chopped broccoli florets, Portobello mushrooms, zucchini, summer squash, and tomatoes. My Aunt came over the other day with pineapple and my husband grilled it right on the grill no foil needed and we topped our burgers with it.

As for a good grillable burger. Which is every vegan’s 10million dollar question… My husband makes my Vegan Boca Burgers on foil on the grill or Dominix Eggplant Burgers. Perfect with a little ketchup and mustard!

A good grillable sausage? I am obsessed with Tofurky’s Beer Brats. I mean obsessed. No foil needed and I will eat them year round. We also do soy hot dogs and all seem to be good so I just get whatever is on sale. The kids don’t notice the difference but on a side note cook them in a hot dog toaster or microwave. The grill sometimes overcooks them fast. You can place on for a second after for the grill markings.

Enjoy!

XOXOX,

The Hippie Gypsy

Veganized Chicken, Broccoli, Ziti Dish with an Alfredo Sauce

When I was a kid my family would go to Applebee’s on a regular basis and then to the movie theatre next door. We loved these trips. My brother would always order the Chicken, Broccoli, Ziti dish with a side of garlic bread. I began to order this dish as well. It was always a hit. It was only my second favorite to the chicken fingers because of their honey mustard sauce which even today I am sure has some sort of addictive drug in it and is made out of magic, but I digress.

*Please note: They have nothing vegan at Applebee’s anymore even their salads and side item veggies have meat or dairy in them 😦

My brother and his wife gave birth to a son this past month. So in honor of his new son (Nolan) and what will surely be his new son’s eating habits, I will post my recipe for a veganized Chicken, Broccoli, and Ziti. I must also make note that my step children and husband beg for this meal and state it is their favorite dinner and they are all omnivores.

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Nolan’s Chicken, Broccoli, and Ziti

Alfredo Sauce

1/4 block of Daiya Havarti

1-2cups of Silk Soy Creamer

1/4 cup of Olive Oil

1 dash of thyme

1 dash of nutmeg

1 tbsp granulated garlic

Kosher Salt

Fresh Ground Pepper

“Chicken”

1 boxed container of Beyond Meat (R) Lightly Salted Chicken Strips

Olive Oil

Salt

Pepper

Broccoli

2 heads of broccoli

Olive Oil

Salt

Pepper

Ziti

2lbs of boxed ziti

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PREPARATION

  • Boil a large pot of salted water.
  • Add 2lbs of boxed ziti. Cook until al dente drain.
  • Wait to place in serving bowl until other items are done.
  • Dice Chicken Strips into cubes place in frying pan on medium with olive oil salt and pepper and sautee until hot. Place to the side.
  • Preheat oven to 450degrees.
  • Take the stems of the broccoli heads. Then cut into small 1-2 inch florets and slice each floret down the center so it has one flat side.
  • On a cookie sheet toss broccoli with an ample amount of olive oil until well covered and the cookie sheet is as well. Toss with a good amount to salt and a few grinds of pepper.
  • Place broccoli in oven for 25-28minutes. Or until crispy and roasted with carmelized edges. Small pieces may appear burnt.

roasted broccoli

  • In a sauce pan place oil, salt, and pepper until warm then add cream and cheese. If it appears to thin as it cooks down feel free to add a cornstarch/arrowroot slurry or some Galaxy brand parmesan cheese or even nutritional yeast (“nooch”).
  • When sauce is complete add chicken to it until well combined and then toss with pasta.
  • Last add roasted broccoli and toss lightly into mixture.
  • Serve hot. Crusty bread is always a great side choice as well!

Enjoy!

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XOXOX,

The Hippie Gypsy

Two Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies

So to keep the theme of fast recipes with leftovers… I came across this recipe from a former coworker who found it on another site and thought it was too good to be true. It was a 2 ingredient cookie (3 or 4 if you add some good stuff). I had two containers of half used quick oats and a quarter of a bag of vegan chocolate chips because my husband sneaks chocolate when I am not around, and of course at least 5 or 6 frozen brown bananas in my freezer just in case! I always keep them around because my step kids love banana pancakes. So whenever I don’t finish a bunch in the freezer one or two will go! This was the prefect recipe that I will make again and again because it is so easy and dare I say healthy! My husband thinks it needs more sugar. But I just told him to go snack on the fudge from yesterday :). Eat up!

cookies cooled

NOTE: The original recipe was on The Burlap Bag and my friend’s blog is Organic Glory. So take a looksy!

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RECIPE: Vegan Oatmeal Cookies

(2) Overripe Brown Bananas

1 cup Quick oats

Optional: Vegan Chocolate Chips, Walnuts, etc.

oats

Mash the bananas into the quick oats and then mix in any optional toppings.

silpat

Place on a cookie sheet with either a silpat or parchment, it will stick and be messy otherwise.

cookies on silpat

Bake at 350degrees for 15minutes.

cookies close up

Eat and Enjoy!

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XOXOX, The Hippie Gypsy